Rest In Peace: 300 Year Old Witch

Chapter 2

————— trigger warning —————

"I still cannot fathom why I must have a tutor." I muttered off to myself as I laid on the bed, staring at the glass chandelier emerging from the bright white ceiling.

I huffed and followed the ridges of the crown molding. It was intricate. Elegant. Pleasing to the eyes. My eyes then landed on the white walls. They were simple. Empty. Devoid of feeling or emotion. As if it were not the walls of a room, but an abstract put up for display.

Turning the other way, I faced the large window on the side of the room, overseeing a forest of grudging familiarity. The very forest that sheltered the coven I had once opposed. I frowned as I felt the pull of the forest. A force that has since kept me tied down to this loathsome village.

It did not matter where I went. It did not matter where I died. I, almost ritualistically, always find myself returning. The pull stronger than life itself. 

"How burdensome." I said under my breath.

With furrowed brows, I propped myself up, my pitch black hair cascading down my back. The dark silk-like threads, a huge contrast from my white laced nightgown.

Gently, I pushed myself off the bed, holding the wooden bedside table for support. My pale hands then found their way to the window, realizing that the casement was connected to a balcony.

The night breeze pushed into the room as I opened the glass windows, making the translucent white curtains flutter to the side. Walking barefooted, I took a step towards the edge, feeling the urge to climb up and jump.

The memories I had normally suppressed, bubbled up from the nostalgic feeling of the forest. Unable to take anymore, I quickened my pace, the thumping of my heart in my head. As I stopped in front of the white ivy covered stone handrail, my lips formed a frown. I had realized the room was only two stories up.

I had already jumped from this height. The chances of me actually passing were too slim to take note of. Still, I could not help but want to grasp that tiny sliver of hope for eternal peace.

"What a pity." I hummed in defeat, tracing the cold stone handrail with my fingers.

I looked up to the moon, its light bouncing off my odd colored irises. Soaking in its energy, memories of the deeds I had done resurfaced. Again, the same emotions flooded my system and I breathed in a sigh, remembering the past all too well.

A rustle in the woods dragged me out of my head, from the memories. The pain. Not wanting to be the named freak of the town, I muttered a charm under my breath, changing the color of my irises to a plain shade of brown. I then flicked my head to the area of the noise, my eyes readjusting itself to the dark night. I squint, seeing a shadowy figure in the distance.

"I say, it is rude to stare at a lady in her night wear. Have you no manners, child?" I asked, my delicate voice drifting in the air. Glaring at the shaded area of the woods, I contemplated whether to use my powers or not.

Despite being an immortal witch, I still am human after all. I am not omniscient, omnipotent, or omnipresent. I am made of flesh and blood; and thus, my powers have their own short comings.

"If you do not show yourself this instant, I will head toward you instead." I declared to the figure, readying myself to jump over. Moments of silence passed by; and at the end of my patience, I placed a foot on top of the handrail.

"Don't!" A masculine voice yelled, pausing to clear his throat. "Don't move an inch from there." The newcomer continued as he recomposed himself. Despite the chatters of the forest, his voice resounded, clear as day. It was deep. Rough. As if from a young man in his twenties.

I huffed, listening to his frantic movements. The sounds of the leaves just did not match my simple request. The entity only needed to step out of the shade. Instead, I have been kept waiting for quite awhile now.

What on earth was that child doing.

"Get down from there." The deep voice echoed just as I had parted my lips to make another ultimatum. I closed my mouth and reluctantly pushed myself off the handrail, frowning as a male around the age of 25 walked out of the shade. He was well built. Youthful. Muscular. Quite dashing as well.

His hair was slicked back, colored the same shade as a raven's coat. My newly made brown orbs then met his own stormy set of eyes, colored in a particular shade of grey. A color of grey that brought me back to the boundary of life and death. To those retched grey gates that made me writhe in anguish. The very gates that were chained and locked by the goddess Hecate, obstructing my path.

With cold eyes, I glared at the stranger, fueled by my anger. The anger I held towards the goddess who had locked my gates to the afterlife, the stubborn witches who hexed me to roam the earth for eternity, and the foolish humans who had the gall to start that halfwitted war.

Oh, how his eyes displeased me so.

"State your purpose, boy." I said, hollow and unfeeling. My voice, a complete opposite to the burning wrath inside. He furrowed his brows, deep in thought. Perhaps deciding whether to lie or not.

My peering eyes watched him struggle with himself before clearing his throat. He turned towards me, determined; but those irksome eyes gave him no benefit.

"I was taking a walk, but I seem to have ended up here." The visitor said after awhile. I couldn't help but purse my lips, pondering what to do. As displeased as I was, it would be unbecoming to make a decision fueled by unwarranted wrath.

After all, I am yet to have the sufficient knowledge to prove him wrong. There still is a possibility of a road existing within this vicinity, though slim.

"Your eyes," he started, "I could've sworn they were red." Curiosity laced his voice as he watched me from below the balcony. Again, I frowned, reluctant to converse with this unexpected visitor.

My eyes are not red, you fool. Still, gossip of a red eyed monster will do me no good.

"Your eyes must be fooling you, boy." I stated, disinclined to continue this odd exchange. Conversing in a room is one matter, but exchanging words on the balcony is something I am unwilling to do.

Especially with an unknown child that came out of those retched woods.

"Besides, isn't it rude to call me a boy?" The stranger started, a smirk playing on his lips. Leaning on the aged trunk of a tree, he crossed his arms, accenting his muscular build. The arrogance in his tone flummoxed me.

His pomposity is incomprehensible. Boy, your grandparents are akin to toddlers in my eyes.

Baffled and tired, I had decided to retire for the night, not wanting to interact with this unwelcome visitor anymore than I already had. I turned and traced my fingers to the intricate window frame, pausing in thought.

Perhaps it may be wise to give the boy a mind of caution. To warn the child never to return.

Slowly, I glanced to the rude outsider behind me, my head following the lead of my modest brown eyes. As I turned to him, the visitor seemed deep in thought yet again.

"Child," I started, garnering the attention from his thoughts. "The forest is alive at night. It will be in your best interest to leave with caution." I started, preparing to cast a spell.

"Leave and never return." My icy voice sliced through the air as my eyes flashed into its amethyst form for a second. I watched the spell imbued in my words take place before I returned to the room, shutting both the windows and the curtains as I did.

——————

Hello,

I've decided to create another chapter. I believe that the pacing of this chapter is slower than the first. If you would like, I can quicken the pace. This chapter is also more of a narrative than normal. Please do tell me if it gets tiring or not!

Also, how is the character development. If anything is off or odd, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,
Titania